Will Study for Money

Gold stars or cold cash? Same difference for some kids in New York City’s high-poverty schools. Although considered controversial by some, the Sparks program — a privately funded initiative that rewards students for academic excellence — seems to be working. The New York Post reported that “an overwhelming number” of schools experienced improved scores of up to nearly 40 percent in reading and math.

Roland Fryer, Harvard’s youngest tenured black professor, introduced the concept through his pioneering work at the university’s Education Innovation Laboratory. Despite successfully overcoming the challenges faced by most underprivileged children, Fryer wanted to change the odds rather than simply inspiring others by having beaten the odds. He believes that financial incentives help kids make the connection between doing well in school and earning future income.

So of course, the higher the score, the better the pay. Seventh graders can earn up to $500 and fourth-graders up to $250 per year. The kids are unquestionably driven to succeed. One student told the Post, “It’s all we talk about. Every day we ask our teachers, ‘Did we pass? When do we get paid?’” she said. “It made me want to study more because I was getting paid.” Sounds like money does talk.